Public Relations to Market a Nonprofit Organization - Oleksiy Nesterenko

1. Public Relations to Market a Nonprofit Organization - Oleksiy Nesterenko Like any other type of business, marketing is an important key to sustaining a nonprofit organization. The problem is that it can be difficult to justify spending the nonprofit's limited funds on expensive ad campaigns. Fortunately, there are some fairly easy, low- cost options for getting the word out about what you do. Online marketing is a must, with a well-developed website and effective use of your contact database. A good public relations program runs a close second and can be the key to driving traffic to your website. Plan, plan, plan

2. Every nonprofit should put the time in to plan a substantial public relations program. To start, your mission and vision need to be well-defined and make sense - a bunch of nonprofit jargon strung together has far less impact than a plainly-worded statement of what you are trying to do. Be clear on the top three points you want the general public to know about the organization, those factors that make your nonprofit stand out. Develop a solid verbal business card, a short and sweet statement (less than 30 seconds of speaking) that includes all the critical information about your organization. Prepare all supporting documents before you implement your PR plans, including press releases to meet varying purposes, statistical data sheets, program descriptions, photos, etc. Be sure every document is professional in appearance and photo ready, if necessary. Research media outlets Starting with your local media (newspapers, local TV news, regional periodicals), select those that are likely to reach your target market - donors, clients, or any other segment important to your organization's success. Request their media kits and spend some time becoming familiar with the style and intellectual level of their articles or clips. Media outlets cater to all different market segments with all sorts of interests. Don't waste time on those that are not likely to be excited about your mission. For those outlets that do seem appropriate, make the effort to determine who the gatekeepers are. These are the folks who have the first dibs on approving or disapproving potential story ideas. Once they are identified, work to develop a positive relationship with them through community networking events, periodic emails, and the like. Follow up Once you have submitted a press release or story pitch, be sure to follow up within a reasonable amount of time. Remember that reporters are likely to get dozens to hundreds of story pitches in the email on any given day, so do not take it personally when yours is not picked up right away. Send out a follow-up email any time your organization adds a new program, reaches a milestone, or secures a major grant or donation. Be patient, but don't neglect your efforts. Over time, the media representative is likely to notice your organization popping up again and again...and hopefully will reward your persistence with a story. Be true to your word Whatever claims you make about your organization in your press releases or story pitches, be sure you can back them up. Reporters are almost always under strict time demands, and if you waste one minute of their time, most will never forgive or forget.

3. Show up on time, tell the truth, and give them what they are looking for (that is, don't beg for contributions for the two minutes of camera time if what they want is a description of your programs or success stories). An effective PR program may take time to develop, but the payoff of landing your nonprofit on the front page will be well worth all the effort. Hire Oleksiy Nesterenko Startup Finance a Startup Consultancy firm managed by Mr. Oleksiy Nesterenko if you have made your mind to make a PR Program and get the needed financial and strategic insight that enables business to thrive. Read more visit: https://la.wordpress.com/tag/oleksiy-nesterenko/